LeBron James delivered a commanding performance, scoring 30 points to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a crucial victory, staving off elimination in the Western Conference playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Anthony Davis also stepped up, contributing 25 points and an impressive 23 rebounds in the Lakers’ 119-108 triumph in LA.
The win marked a significant turnaround for the Lakers, marking their first victory over the Nuggets since December 2022 and halting Denver’s remarkable 11-game winning streak in their matchups.
“We’ve given ourselves another lifeline, and it’s a one-game series for us,” James informed reporters.
Game 5 is slated for Monday in Denver, where the defending champions, leading the best-of-seven series 3-1, have the chance to clinch victory on home turf.
“Monday’s game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that and we know that. It’s that stage where you lose, you’re done,” emphasized James.
Nikola Jokić, a two-time MVP, secured his second triple-double of the series, amassing 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists.
In other matchups, the Boston Celtics outpaced the Miami Heat 104-84 in Game 3, seizing a 2-1 series advantage.
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintains a 3-0 series lead against the New Orleans Pelicans following a commanding 106-85 victory on Saturday, while the Orlando Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89, knotting their series at 2-2.